A
PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF A DAY OUT IN LONDON BY GUS NICHOLSON - 30 YEARS ON

Punks on the march for Sid

February 2,1980 was the date set to mark the passing of
Sid, 12 months to the day, with a march from Sloane Square to Hyde
Park. Billed as a day of punk celebration for the punk icon, me and
three others had already decided we would make a day of it, and travel
by train from Liverpool to London.

Now, I know most people have read or seen articles about
the march, and maybe younger ones wish they had been there to pay their
respects. With hundreds of punks on the sreets of London, what could
possibly go wrong? Well, quite a lot for us four.

We set
off nice and early and got to Euston about 10.00am, making our way
straight to Sloane Square underground station. Once on the Kings Road,
we could see a few hundred already gathered, mostly punks, some
skinheads and general onlookers. We still had some cans left from the
journey, and just hung around drinking. Journalists and camera crews
started mixing among the crowd; I remember a female American news
channel reporter asking if anyone knew Sid personally, obviously hoping
for some insight, but she wasn’t having much luck.

Just before the march was due to start, we saw a mate
from Liverpool who had moved to London a year before. He could hardly
stand up, having been drinking for some time. Anyway, the march had
just got going, when our drunken friend starts to sing some Liverpool
football tunes at the top of his voice - not a good idea, as this
attracted the attention of about 20 skinheads who decided to march
right behind us. We just knew it was going to kick off.

Everyone else seemed to be enjoying the day, singing My
Way and various other punk classics. Just as we got into Hyde Park, the
trouble started. Robbo (who used to be a roadie for Adam And The Ants
in the early days) took the worse of it, having fallen over and then
getting hit with a park bench. Me and Chris got kicked around
the floor before the skinheads backed away. There was a short stand off
and then we got chased across the park and eventually split up. Me and
Chris didn’t have a clue where we were.

Having wiped the blood away as best as possible, we went
underneath a walkway, only to see one of the skinheads on his own. It
didn’t take us long to catch him. We gave him a good kicking until he
wasn’t moving. Bastard.

We managed to get back to Euston for the train home.
Robbo never made it back until the next day. Everyone was battered and
bruised, but at least we were there.

Written by Gus Nicholson
(February 2010)

Sounds music weekly reported the memorial march
the following week 9th February 1980.
Note: the article ironically states "Despite a 60 strong skinhead
turnout at Hyde Park the march passed off without incident."
Not for everyone.......